Book 2 Chapter 83: Lucky Star - Martial God

Chapter 83: Lucky Star The next morning, He Wude and his companions arrived as promised at Shaoming Residence. Shui Xuanjin personally escorted them to the city gates. He Wude and the others felt extremely honored and humbled by Master Shui Xuanjin’s courtesy. This was the natural reaction of someone with acquired cultivation encountering an innate master. Even though He Wude was He Yiming’s grandfather, when facing other innate experts, he dared not show the slightest disrespect. Once they were outside the city, and Yuan Lixun mounted a steed, steadfastly staying close, He Wude couldn't help but ask, “Yiming, is Lixun accompanying you too?” Yuan Lixun blushed red in the face, her petite ears perked up sharply, full of anxiety. What if the elders disallowed it, thinking she was hindering He Yiming’s martial progress? Without even glancing in her direction, He Yiming calmly replied, “Yes, I’ve already decided.” His words were resolute, leaving no room for negotiation. He Wude and He Laibao exchanged a glance, both eyes twinkling with a faint smile. Then, He Wude nodded, “Alright, after all, you're an innate master. Even in Hengshan, you're considered top-notch, so having one more person to serve you shouldn't be a problem.” Only then did He Yiming show a hint of a smile. He had anticipated having to argue his case, not expecting it to be resolved so easily. He internally marveled at how differently the innate experts were treated. He Laibao gazed at the city walls, suddenly filled with sentiment, “So many years have passed since I last came here. Once I leave this time, there will be few chances to see Tianluo Capital again.” He Yiming was slightly surprised; it was rare for Grandpa Bao to speak in such a tone, as if he were particularly attached to Tianluo Capital. He Wude patted his old friend's shoulder and turned, saying, “Yiming, do you know why your Grandpa Bao and I came to Tianluo Kingdom to develop our family estate after leaving the sect?” “I don't know,” He Yiming honestly replied. “It’s quite simple,” He Wude chuckled, “Your Grandpa Bao and I first met in this bustling city.” He Yiming’s eyes filled with curiosity, sensing there were untold stories between these two elders. “I’ve been an orphan since birth, taken in by my master, Pharmacist Daoist, who raised me as a firewood boy and taught me martial arts. When I came down the mountain with my master as I grew older, I met Laibao in Tianluo Capital. Back then, Laibao was a young boy in the city, also unaware of his origins, surviving by begging. We hit it off immediately and have been together ever since,” He Wude said, filled with emotion. “Neither of us knows where we came from, but since we met here, we might as well call ourselves people of Tianluo Kingdom.” He Quanxin and He Yiming exchanged glances, realizing why there was no ancestral tablet in their family estate. The elders had no roots, carving out He Family Estate through He Wude’s efforts. Without it, who knows where they would be drifting? He Laibao suddenly said, “Old Master, after all these years, our roots have already sunk deep in Taicang County and can no longer be uprooted.” Indeed, the forty years of effort in Taicang County, carving out a place with a single Guan Dao, spoke volumes of their struggle. The He family had become integrated with Taicang County, sharing its fortunes. He Wude laughed heartily, gently tugged on the reins, and his horse began to trot. He Yiming and others naturally followed suit. Behind them, under the gradually rising sun, Tianluo Capital looked ancient and grand. On the city wall, Shui Xuanjin watched the departing six riders, her heart surging with indescribable emotion. ※※※※ The verdant mountains layered like ocean waves presented a grand and magnificent view. Under the guidance of He Wude and He Laibao, He Yiming and Yuan Lixun ventured into the deep mountains after leaving Tianluo Capital for over ten days. As for He Quanxin and his son, they led the horses back to He Family Estate. Following He Wude’s instructions, they temporarily returned instead of seizing the opportunity to enter the capital. After all, the He family’s foundation was still too shallow with an excessively sparse population. Even in Taicang County, their main base, they lacked much. Entering the capital would expose their vulnerable foundation. Therefore, after He Yiming and the others entered the mountains, it was natural for He Quanxin to return home and guard the family. However, given He Yiming's current reputation, everyone knew that the rise of the He family was unstoppable. Under the watchful eyes of many forces, it was unlikely that bandits would gather to attack Taicang again. For He Yiming, entering the mountains was not a first, but for Yuan Lixun, she had never been in such a harsh environment. Fortunately, with the seasoned experience of He Wude and He Laibao, preparations were made well in advance, particularly with the insect-repelling ointment applied to exposed skin, ensuring not only protection from mosquitoes but also making snakes avoid them. He Wude mentioned that this ointment was concocted by his teacher, Pharmacist Daoist, and its effectiveness was astonishing. He Yiming also possessed a book of remedies, noting similar ointment preparations within it. However, his current focus on martial arts had prevented any serious study. Along the way, He Yiming eagerly carried everything on his back, while He Wude and others entered the mountain empty-handed, at most carrying a stick meant for warding off snakes. During the journey, He Yiming’s ears twitched continuously, realizing that although this skill might not have significant use during battles with peers, it had unexpected benefits in such an environment. Within dozens of meters around him, not even the slightest rustle went unnoticed, not even a tiny insect. The path through the mountains helped him further grasp the power of the wind, adding another layer of understanding. Discovering this, even He Yiming couldn’t help but smile broadly. After traveling for over ten days, He Wude and He Laibao suddenly stopped, showing signs of hesitation and, for the first time, began to argue. Listening from the side, He Yiming and Yuan Lixun couldn't help but find the situation amusing. It turns out the two elders were lost... They had been away from their sect for so long, a full forty years without returning. The Hengshan range, like a mystical beast, is located deep in the mountains away from human habitats. Although they grew up in Hengshan, changes in the landscape over the forty years made it difficult to navigate. Arriving in the area based on memory, they were at a loss. At this moment, He Wude confidently proposed heading left, while He Laibao firmly believed they should head right. In his sixteen years, He Yiming had never seen such a disagreement between He Laibao and his grandfather. He realized that when elders get stubborn, they could be as unyielding as each other. No matter how much He Wude’s brows furrowed or his eyes glared, He Laibao kept shaking his head and stuck to his opinion. These two, though master and servant, were closer than brothers. After arguing for a long time, neither could convince the other, and He Yiming and Yuan Lixun had no room to intervene. Yuan Lixun took the water flask from He Yiming's pack, poured two cups, and offered them to the elders, saying, “Grandpas, since you each hold your views, perhaps explore based on your memories separately. One of you might find the right path.” Their eyes lit up simultaneously, looking at Yuan Lixun with newfound appreciation. He Yiming looked at her with both admiration and a curious gaze, as if not quite recognizing her. In He Family Estate, the status of He Wude and the other elder was immensely revered. When he began to show anger, the younger generation would scatter. Even He Yiming, faced with his grandfather’s temper, thought of avoiding the scene temporarily. Yet Yuan Lixun chose to step up and mediate at this moment, demonstrating a courage quite different from the shy girl in He Yiming's mind. It dawned on him that Yuan Lixun had this side to her as well. Yuan Lixun blushed, as if the words spoken were not her own. He Wude downed the water in one gulp and laughed, “Laibao, it seems we two really are old, not seeing as clearly as a young girl.” He Laibao also drank the water, agreeing, “Indeed, Old Master, the world belongs to the young now. The sixth young mistress is a match for the sixth young master.” Yuan Lixun’s face turned an even deeper shade of red, but her eyes twinkled with undisguised happiness. She already understood He Laibao's true status within the He family. Anyone who dared to treat him as a mere servant would be gravely mistaken. To have his recognition was nearly as significant as receiving He Wude’s personal affirmation. He Wude glared and said, “You keep calling me Old Master, but do you really respect me? Never mind our little argument just now. Remember when Quan Ming was a mischievous child? Every time he got into trouble, he’d run to you for protection. I’d want to punish him, and you’d be ready to fight me over it. That’s...” He paused abruptly, glancing at He Yiming's embarrassed face, coughed lightly, and said, “Forget it, let’s not dwell on past matters. Laibao, I'll head this way, and you take that way. Three hours should be enough to explore the area.” He Laibao flashed a gentle, harmless smile and said, “As you wish, Old Master.” He Wude snorted dismissively and headed off in his chosen direction. He Yiming gently tugged at He Laibao’s sleeve and whispered, “Grandpa Bao, was my father really that troublesome as a child?” He Laibao hesitated briefly, then said, “Not too troublesome, just often enough to keep the Old Master awake at night.” He Yiming's jaw dropped in disbelief, completely dumbfounded. Watching He Laibao also set off in his chosen direction, He Yiming resolved to forget everything he had overheard today. Nonetheless, he marveled at the revelation—the father he had always known to be mature once had an undisclosed mischievous side. Turning his head, he caught Yuan Lixun suppressing a laugh. He Yiming tried to keep a stern face, but before he could muster a glare, he too burst into laughter. For a moment, their crisp laughter echoed far and wide. As He Wude moved forward, hearing that familiar laughter, he shook his head, thinking: Quan Ming, I'm not bad-mouthing you before the younger generation; you were indeed a handful. In distant Taicang County, He Quan Ming was negotiating in a city shop when he suddenly sneezed loudly. He rubbed his nose, puzzled—how could he catch a chill with his peak eight-layer inner energy? A moment later, He Yiming suppressed his laughter and said, “Lixun, we've been so busy traveling we've neglected our practice. Now that we have some downtime, you should start cultivating.” Yuan Lixun readily agreed, her face still adorned with the glow of laughter. Yet, following He Yiming's instructions, she quickly centered herself and began her training. He Yiming sat cross-legged, instantly releasing his qi. The Ripple Technique circulated within him, forming a mystical cycle with the ambient water energy beyond description. When cultivating with Yuan Lixun, He Yiming always used the Ripple Technique. However, the Ripple Technique had undergone a transformation, especially after incorporating the elements of wind, cloud, rain, and mist. Its power now rivaled any innate technique. Regrettably, his other techniques hadn't evolved much, which left him somewhat disheartened. Currently, Yuan Lixun had yet to break through the fifth layer but stood at its peak. With He Yiming's presence, while she faced her limits, her chance of breakthrough was significantly higher. This is because innate masters, while cultivating, naturally connect and communicate their internal qi with the world’s energy, creating a unique field around them. For a master of the fire element, for example, the surrounding fire energy would be overwhelmingly strong. If an acquired fire element practitioner reached a peak and faced a barrier, cultivating within this field would make breaking through significantly easier. This method, although less effective than using Spirit Pills or Limit Break Pills, relied on one's own strength for breakthroughs, providing greater growth potential. This was Yuan Lixun's current situation. Her water element internal energy had reached the fifth layer's peak, but she struggled with the final hurdle. He Yiming used the Ripple Technique beside her to provide an optimal environment. For He Yiming, practicing any technique would increase his qi, so helping others while benefiting himself was unquestionably worthwhile. Three hours passed quickly, and when Yuan Lixun finished her training, concern lined her brow. He Yiming quickly reassured her, “Lixun, it's perfectly normal not to break through this time. I stayed at the fifth layer for four whole years.” Yuan Lixun shook her head gently, “Young Master, that's not what worries me.” He Yiming felt relieved. Facing a peak, the biggest taboo was unrest and obsession. Such anxiety only made breaking the barrier harder. Yet Yuan Lixun remained calm, seemingly unattached to the idea. As long as she maintained this mindset, He Yiming was confident that cultivating beside him would allow her to advance within a year or two. With a smile, He Yiming casually asked, “Then what are you worried about?” Yuan Lixun responded seriously, “Grandpa mentioned returning in three hours, but neither of them has returned yet. Could they have encountered trouble?” He Yiming chuckled, “Lixun, they meant three hours one way. Including the return trip, it’ll take at least that long. And as for trouble? Heh, they are both ten-layer masters. Here, unless they encounter a spirit beast, they are more likely to cause trouble than to find it.” Reassured, Yuan Lixun’s worries eased. With He Yiming, she had learned what spirit beasts were—encountering one was next to impossible, nearly inconceivable. Yet, seeing He Yiming’s gently teasing and affectionate smile, her face flushed. She retorted, “But what if there really is a spirit beast here?” He Yiming raised his brows, patting his chest with confidence, “That’s impossible, but if a spirit beast does appear, I would...” He suddenly stopped, his expression turning strange. Yuan Lixun didn’t notice the oddity, smiling shyly, “And what would you do?” He Yiming's ears twitched, his expression becoming even more peculiar. Yuan Lixun finally noted his unusual behavior and asked worriedly, “Young Master, what’s wrong?” He Yiming stared at her for a while, then sighed with a wry smile, “Lixun, you might just be right.” “What do you mean?” “Lixun, I seriously love you,” He Yiming’s eyes sparkled with excitement, “You truly are my lucky star. There might indeed be a spirit beast here.” Yuan Lixun flushed deep red, feeling her blood surge like a fountain and her mind buzzing, unable to comprehend anything He Yiming said next.